Sept. 16, 2005
TEMPE, Ariz. (www.thesundevils.com) -- The Arizona State Swimming and Diving program has released its schedule for the upcoming 2005-2006 season, as announced by head swimming coach Mike Chasson and head diving coach Mark Bradshaw.
In addition to an exciting Pac-10 conference schedule, the swimming and diving teams have a challenging non-conference schedule as well. Beginning their season in Honolulu versus the University of Hawaii, the Sun Devils open their home schedule with a match against UC Santa Barbara October 28 and a dual meet with UCSB and Penn State on October 29. Additionally, the ASU swimmers will be tested in the Texas Invitational in Austin, Texas on December 1-3 while the diving team travels to Columbus, Ohio for the Buckeye Invitational during the same weekend.
The 2006 NCAA Men's Championship will be hosted by Georgia Tech University in Atlanta, Ga. (Mar. 23-26, 2006). The Women's Championship will be held Mar. 16-18 in Athens, Ga. (hosted by Georgia).
"This is probably the best schedule that we will race against since I've been here," said Chasson, who is in his eighth year at the helm of the swim program. "It will be a good test for our squad and give our student-athletes a good racing experience."
For the Sun Devils, several standout student-athletes who earned accolades last season return to the experience-laden roster this year. Chasson's swimming squad returns seven All-Americans from last year, including seniors Kathryn Hennessy and Erin Baldinger and sophomore Caitlyn Andrew. The men's squad is highlighted by 13 returning letterwinners, including sophomores Lucas Azevedo and CJ Nuess and senior David Kolozar.
For Bradshaw and the diving team, four-time NCAA champion Joona Puhakka returns for his senior year of competition, in search of his school-record fifth national title. Junior Cassidy Farwell returns to the women's diving team after participating in the 2005 USA Nationals on the platform.
The 2005-06 swimming and diving season begins October 1, with the annual Alumni meet and the yearly Pentathlon will follow the next weekend on Oct. 8. ASU's first official meet will be Oct. 21 at the University of Hawai'i.